Fine art fair opens at Palm Springs Convention Center

The second annual Palm Springs Fine Art Fair will kick off tonight at the Palm Springs Convention Center. The Opening Night Reception, which starts at 6 p.m., will benefit the Palm Springs Art Museum. Local artist Lisa Provenza-Bebar's edible art installation "Cookie, Be My Valentine," will feature a 6-foot vanilla sugar cookie on an easel emblazoned with a replica of pop artist Mel Ramos' 2012 porcelain painting "Cookie" in icing. A live model will ascend a 9-foot tall ladder to break off cookie pieces for guests. Palm Springs City Councilman Paul Lewin will also present a special proclamation to local philanthropist Helene Galen. The Fine Art Fair, an official city of Palm Springs 75th anniversary event, runs through Sunday at the convention center. More than 50 art galleries -- including six from the Palm Springs area -- will exhibit and sell more than 1,000 works of post-war and contemporary art. Lectures, a curators' retreat and other events are also planned. More than 10,000 people attended last year's inaugural event, and art sales reached the "millions of dollars," according to Rick Friedman, President of the Hamptons Expo Group, which produces the fair. The fair is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. A one-day pass is $25 and a three-day pass is $40. Student and senior discounts will be available. For information and tickets, go to www.palmspringsfineartfair.com.

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